DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THREE FOOLS

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THREE FOOLS

" 'Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise…." (Ephesians 5:14-17a)

"I saw then in my dream that Christian went on until he came to the bottom of the hill. There he saw laying by the side of the path three men fast asleep, with chains upon their feet. The name of one was Foolish, the second Sloth, and the third Presumption."

Christian encountered all kinds of people on his journey to the Celestial City, but these three are perhaps the most egregious in their apathy – Foolish, Sloth, and Presumption. They were all asleep, impervious to the world around them, not paying attention.

Foolish was the one who was sloppy in his walk. He just closed his eyes to his surrounding, oblivious to the dangers that might come his way. He said, "I see no danger." He stuck his head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. It is the fool who does not pay attention to where he is walking (or not walking, as the case may be). God calls us to "walk circumspectly," paying attention to avoid potholes in the street so we can avoid them.

Sloth was just plain lazy. He was tired of the journey. His attitude was to just let the rest of the world go by. To be a follower of Christ is to be alert, and not sleeping. Living for Jesus is joyful and rewarding, but it is not always easy. It takes attention and effort. God says, "Wake up, you who sleep."

Presumption was not careful about his thinking. "Everyone needs to make his own choices. You need to mind your own business and not meddle in ours," he said to Christian. He presumed that everyone would be okay, regardless of how a person walks, because everyone is going to heaven. Presumption would say that it doesn't matter how you live, because God is gracious and will overlook our sinful rebellion. Presuming on the grace of God is reckless. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, one temptation was to jump off the pinnacle of the temple because God had promised to protect Him. Jesus said, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God" (Luke 4:12). To do something stupid just to prove a point is the epitome of presumption. God says, "Don't be unwise."

These are three associations we need to avoid. They are in bondage to their own ignorance. They are not people Christian wanted to keep company with, and after warning them, he went on his way

Love, Dad